Biped mortar mount



May 31, 1969 Filed Dec. 26, 1957 J. R. JASSE BIPED MORTAR MOUNT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1, 1950 J. R. JASSE 2,938,433

BIPED MORTAR MOUNT Filed Dec. 26, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 31,, 1% J. R. JASSE BIPED MORTAR MOUNT 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 26, 1957 E S s A J R Iw BIPED MORTAR MOUNT 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 26, 1957 wmwwn m BIPED MORTAR MOUNT Joseph Raymond Jasse, Paris, France, assignor to St: grotchlnss-Brandt, Paris, France, a corporation of ance.

Filed Dec. 26, 1957, Ser. No. 705,287 Claims priority, application France Dec. 28, 1956 1 Claim. (CI. 89-37) The present invention relates to biped mounts for mortar and like arms in which the gun tube bears at the rear on the ground through the medium of a base plate and more particularly to the type comprising a support having two legs, a clamp collar clamped on the gun tube, and a mechanism for connecting the collar to the support, which is termed hereinafter releasing means and is adapted to permit the displacement of the collar relative to the support against the action of elastically yieldable means when firing so that this collar moves with the tube when the latter recoils.

The releasing means comprises two telescopic devices disposed in parallel relation, each device comprising two elements of which one is connected to the biped support :and the other to the collar, the elements moving longitudinally relative to one another at the start of a shot :and returning to their initial position under the effect of an elastically yieldable device which interconnects these two elements.

At the start of each shot, at least as concerns the first shots, when the base plate is not yet firmly and finally anchored in the ground to form a substantially immovable mount, this base plate is forced a certain distance into the ground under the eifect of the pressure exerted by the gases of the powder charge on the gun tube. The latter move with the collar in a direction substantially parallel with its axis, and the biped support remains stationary under the eitect of inertia and owing to the sliding motion of the telescopic devices of the releasing means. In this way, the firing angle of the gun tube is maintained during the travel of the projectile through the tube. After the start of the shot, the springs of the releasing means urge the sliding elements toward the position of rest which is generally accompanied by a variation in the firing angle.

In known arrangements, the collar is clamped on the gun tube in such manner as to be incapable of moving relative to the latter. There results a serious disadvantage, since when firing with a heavy charge in soft ground, the recoil travel of the tube may exceed, at least for the first shot or shots, the maximum travel provided for the telescopic devices of the releasing means and there is an impact at the end of the travel on the telescopic elements which is manifested by an excessive dispersion of the projectile with respect to the target and gives rise to serious danger of impairing the releasing means.

It will be observed that, in general, the releasing means is connected to the biped support through the medium of a training device comprising a nut and screw one of the latter two devices being rigid with the support and the other with the releasing means.

The object of the present invention is to provide a biped mount of the aforementioned type, improved in such manner as to avoid any impact in the course of a large recoil of the gun tube, which exceedsthe travel provided for in the releasing means. In this biped 'inount the clamp collar is combined with a-device whereby the collar is elastically or resiliently clamped on the gun tube with such clamping force that this collar is capable of sliding on the gun tube should the recoil travel of the latter exceed the maximum travel provided between the movable elements of the releasing means. Thus, in the event of such a recoil, there is no risk of impairing the releasing means as the collar slides along the gun tube.

In one embodiment of the invention, the collar comprises two rigid elements pivoted together in the known manner, and these two elements are clamped on the gun tube by means of at least'one elastically yieldable device which urges them in the direction for closing the collar.

In another embodiment of the invention, the collar is in one piece and is constituted bya flexible, pliable or articulated strap which is clamped around the gun tube by means of a control device which bears against the ends of the collar in opposite directions, the con trol device bearing against at least one of said ends through the medium of an elastically yieldable device.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the ensuing description, with reference to the accompanying drawings, to which the invention is in no -way restricted.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of a mortar equipped with a biped mount incorporating the first of the aforementioned embodiments, that is a collar comprising two rigid elements urged toward one another by an elastically yieldable device.

Figs. 2 and 3 are rear and plan views of the mortar shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, with a part cut away on an enlarged scale, of the collar shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4, the elastically yieldable device being shown in its adjusted position before clamping the collar;

Fig. 6 is a similar partial sectional View after the collar has been clamped in position;

Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respectively, of a second embodiment, of the invention;

Fig. '10 is a view of the underside of the collar and of the releasing means in position on the gun tube;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 1212 of Fig. 10, and

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken along 13-13 of Fig. 9 of the training device, which connects the biped mount to the releasing means.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the biped mount is combined with a mortar comprising a gun tube A which terminates at the rear in a breech B which bears, through the medium of a swivel or ball b, against a base plate C adapted to be anchored in the ground S.

The biped mount comprises, as known per se, the biped support D which is connected, through the medium of a training device E and a releasing means F, to a collar G adapted to be clamped on the gun tube A.

The biped support D is of conventional type comprising a head 1 to which are pivoted two legs 2. The head 1 is connected to a transverse support in the form of a fork 4 which supports the training device E. Journalled in the fork 4 is a screw 5 rigid with a crank 6 which permits shifting a nut 7 transversely of the support D. Laterally, the fork 4 comprises a slideway 8 (Fig. 3) in which a sighting device can be engaged.

The nut 7 is connected to the releasing means F which is of known type and has two telescopic tubular devices each of which comprises an outer tube 9 and an' inner tube 10 which are axially movable relative .to-one .an-

other. A spring 11 is disposed inside each telescopic device and tends to urge the inner tube 10 into the outer tube 9, the extension of the telescopic device causingthe spring 11 to be compressed.

The two. inner tubes 10 are connected tothe nut 7 of the'training deviceE and the tubes 9 are fixed to the collar G.

' The collar G comprises two rigid elements 12 and 13 of light alloy or the like which are pivotably interconnected by a pin 14 parallel with the axis of the tube A. The outer tubes 9 of the releasing means F are fixed to the element or half-collar 12.

' The foregoing description relates to a conventional structure and the biped mount embodying the invention differs from the latter in the following way:

Instead of clamping the two elements 12 and 13 in a rigid manner on the tube A so that they remain unitary with the latter, even if, following on a very large recoil, the releasing means F reaches the end of its travel, according to the invention the two elements 12 and-13 are clamped in an elastically yieldable manner with an adjustable force on the tube A. To this end, the collar is combined with an elastically yieldable clamping device comprising a bolt. The latter is generally indicated by the reference numeral 15 and comprises a threaded end portion 16, a smooth cylindrical portion 17, a shoulder 18, a recess 19 and a head 20.

The smooth portion 17 of this bolt is slidable in a hollow screw 21 which is threadably engaged in a lug 22 .rigid with the upper element or half-collar 13. The axial bore of the hollow screw comprises a guide portion 23 for the bolt 15 which is surmounted by a portion of larger diameter 24 in which is housed a stack of resilient Belleville washers 25. This stack is held between the bottom of the bore 24 of the screw and a washer 26 against which bears a nut 27 threadably engaged on the threaded portion 16.

The other element or half-collar 12 comprises a lateral lug 28 in which is journalled for rotation about an axis a shaft 29 to which a control lever 30 is connected, for example by its pivotal mounting in a diametral slot in the shaft 29 by means of a pin 31.

The lever 30, which can therefore be moved to a position in which it is parallel with-the tube A, permits, when it is urged toward its position shown in Figs. 4 and 6, rotating the shaft 29 about the axis XX. This shaft comprises two eccentric bearing faces 32 having an axis YY parallel with the axis XX, and a fork 33 is pivotably mounted on these faces 32 for pivotal movement between a withdrawn position 33 shown in dot-dash'line in Fig. 5, and an operative position shown in full line in Figs. 4 to 6.

Provided in the portion or web of the fork member 33 connecting the two branches of the fork there is a recess 34, and thesetwo branches have such length that when the axis YY is situated above the axis XX (Fig. in the plane Z-Z containing the axis XX and the axis of the bolt 15, the recess 34 is capable of freely engaging the bolt 15 in line with the recess 19 of the latter, that is, just above the head 20. The size of the latter is such that it is capable of moving between the two arms of the fork member 33.

Before mounting the collar G on the tube A, the

elastically yieldably Belleville washers 25 are given a certain initial compression, upon which depends, after the collar is clamped in position in the manner described hereinafter, the elastically yieldable clamping force clamping the collar G on the tube A. To eifect this initial ad- 'justment, the nut 27 is screwed a certain distance along the screw-threaded portion 16 of the bolt 15 and the extreme position of the adjustment is determined by the abutment of the nut 27 against the shoulder at the end of the screw-threaded portion 16.

When the initial adjustment has been effected, the

collar'G is placed inits open position on the, tube A and then closed on the latter, the member 33 still being in its position 33.

In the course'of the initial adjustment and during the mounting of the collar on the tube, the bolt 15 occupies the position shown in Fig. 5 relative to the half-collar 13, the compressed stack of washers 25 maintaining the shoulder 18 of the bolt against the lower end of the screw 21.

- To clamp the collar G on the tube A, the lever 30 is moved to its position 30 shown in Fig. 5, so that the axis YY of the bearing faces 32 is placed above the axis XX in the aforementioned plane ZZ containing the axis XX and the axis of the bolt 15. The member 33 is then swung from the position 33 to its operative position 33 to cause the recess 34 to engage the bolt 15 in line with the recess 19 provided on the latter'above the head 20. Thereafter, the lever 30 is moved downwardly to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 5 so that the shaft 29 rotates in the lug 28 about the axis XX and the axis YY describes about the latter a portion of a cylinder which causes the member 33 to be moved downwardly. The member 33 therefore exerts a force on the head 20 of the bolt 15 and, through the medium of the washers 25 which are put under further compression, this force is transmitted elastically to the element 13 and the collar is clamped on the tube A in an elastically yieldable manner.

The maximum elastic clamping is obtained when the axis YY passes under the axis XX and through the aforementioned. plane ZZ, that is when it passes through the lower dead-centre position. a

The element or half-collar 12 is so arranged that the lever 30 abuts this half-collar at 35 (Fig. 6-) shortly after the axis YY has passed through this lower dead-centre position, so that the clamping collar G is automatically .locked in its clamped position.

Thus the collar G is clamped on the gun tube A with a certain elastically yieldable pressure which depends, as will be understood, on the initial adjustment of the stack of elastic washers 25, the throw of the axis YY relative to the axis XX, and the characteristics of the stack of washers 25.

Figs. 7 to 13 show another embodiment of the invention. The mortar, with its gun tube A and its rear anchoring base plate C, is shown in Figs. 7 to 9.

The biped support D is identical to that described hereinbefore, but instead of being connected to the fork of the training device E it is connected to the nut 7 and the releasingmeans F is connected to the member 4 of the device E The screw 5 connected to the crank 6 therefore moves with the tube A in the lateral displacements of .the latter and the nut 7 remains unitary with the support D.

This embodiment differs from the embodiment described hereinbeforeand from conventional biped mounts in the manner of constructing the releasing means F and the collar G clamped on the tube A.

The releasing means F instead of having two telescopic devices, has only a single telescopic device comprising an outer tube 9 (Figs. 11 and 12) and an inner tube 10. The outer tube 9 is connected to the collar G in the manner described hereinafter, and therefore moves rearwardly when the collar moves with the tube v A in the direction of arrow f (Figs. 10 and 12). Threadably engaged in one of the ends of the tube 9 is a plug 36 in which is threadably engaged the rear end of an axial rod 37. In the forward end of the latter there is threadably engaged a screw 38 which is adapted to bear against the end of a sleeve 39 provided with a flange 40. Bearing against the latter is one of the ends of a spring 41 which is adapted to be compressed when the tube 10 moves forwardly of the tube 9 when the latter recoils. The rear end of the spring 41 bears, through the medium ofa guide collar 12, against an 'inner rear flange 43 formed on the tube 10 .Since the releasing means F; has only one telescopic device, the collar G must be prevented from turning about the axis of this releasing means, and for this purpose the tube is keyed relative to the tube 9 by a screw 44 (Fig. 12) threadably engaged in the tube 9 and slidably engaged in a longitudinal recess or key-way 45 which is formed in the tube 10 and is parallel with the axis of the latter.

An end member 46 is threadably engaged on the forward end of the tube 10 an d held fast to the latter by a screw 47. A fi'usto-conical face 48 formed on the member 46 is held tightly against a corresponding bearing face in a lug 49, formed in the middle of the crossmember or support 4 of the training device E by a screw 50 which is rotatable in the lug 49 and threadably engaged in a tapped hole 51 in the end member 46. The latter is prevented from rotating relative to the member 4 by a pin 52 which extends through the end member and is engaged in two diametrically opposed recesses 53 formed in the lug 49.

The collar G is resiliently clamped on the gun tube A in the following manner. The outer tube 9 comprises a lug 53 to which is fixed, as by rivets 54 (Fig. 11), one end of a flexible strap 55, for example of steel, which constitutes the collar proper. Fixed to the other end of the strap 55 in a similar manner, as by rivets 56, is a thrust member 57 which is adapted to receive the force exerted by a screw 58. The latter is threadably engaged in a nut 59 which bears against the inner face of the web or middle portion of a fork '60 composed of steel or other resilient material. The two arms of this fork are pivotably mounted on the lug 53 through the medium of a pin 61. i

To place the collar G on the tube A, the screw 58 is unscrewed sufiiciently to release the end of the member 57 and this permits swinging the fork 60 and releasing the strap 55. The latter is passed around the tube A and then after swinging the fork 60 back to the position shown in Fig. 11, the screw 58 is screwed in such manner that, in bearing against the fork 60, the screw urges the member 57 in the direction of arrow f (-Fig. 11) and clamps the strap 55 on the gun tube A.

Owing to the resilience of the fork 60, the clamping force is elastically yieldable. Maximum clamping is obtained when a shoulder 62 formed between the screwthreaded portion of the screw 58 and the head of the latter bears against the fork 60. The dimensions of the latter, of the screw '58 and the strap 55, are so chosen that in this position of maximum clamping, the elastically yieldable clamping pressure corresponds to the desired maximum clamping.

Thus, when the gun tube A recoils, for example in the course of the first shots before the base plate C has finally embedded or anchored itself in the ground, a distance exceeding the travel provided by the releasing means F the collar or strap is able to slide along the gun tube and there is no danger of impairing the releasing means.

It will he observed that the releasing means F having a single telescopic device is simpler than the conventional releasing means F having two telescopic devices. Thus, it is cheaper and there is no danger of wedging which could arise with releasing means having two telescopic devices if the axes of the latter are not exactly parallel. The biped mount is lighter, during transport, the sight remains on the gun tube, the biped mount being detached by unscrewing the screw 50.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described, many modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a biped mount for a weapon such as a mortar comprising a gun tube, a base plate adapted to be anchored in the ground and against which said gun tube bears: a support having two legs, a collar clamped around the gun tube, recoil means connected to said collar and mounted on said support, said recoil means providing a maximum relative recoil displacement between the collar and the support, the collar comprising two rigid halfcollars pivoted together and an adjustable elastically yieldable device which urges the two half-collars toward one another with a limited force so that the collar is capable of sliding along'the gun tube only when the latter recoils a distance exceeding said maximum recoil displacement in order to permit the setting of the base plate during initial firing of the weapon, said elastically yieldable device comprising: a first member fixed to a first of said half-collars, a recess with a shoulder being provided in the first half-collar, a bolt extending through the recess and including at one end a head and at its other end a threaded portion, a nut threadably engaged in adjustable position on the threaded portion, elastically yieldable means disposed in the recess around the bolt between the nut and said shoulder, and a second member connected to the second half-collar and adapted to hook on the head of the bolt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,457,407 Stokes Jan. 5, 1923 1,713,723 Studler et al. May 21, 1929 2,046,518 Joyce July 7, 1936 2,496,478 Kinnebrew Feb. 7, 1950 2,518,452 Davis et a1 Aug. 15, 1950 2,607,258 King et al. Aug. 19, 1952 

